Monthly Archives: December 2015

TALLAHASSEE Facing the threat of term limits, Florida’s appellate court judges will beef up their presence in the Capitol by hiring a lobbyist with strong political connections and a controversial past. The judges hired a former colleague, Paul Hawkes, who resigned a lifetime appellate judicial position in 2011 to avoid a trial and possible removal…

Some of Florida’s biggest politicians have continued to raise big money in December for political action committees that they control. Since the start of the month, special interest groups have dropped $800,000 into the 10 biggest political action committees controlled by the governor, state House members, and key state senators. Politicians are limited in how…

By some accounts, Florida has the highest homeowner’s insurance rates in the country and rates keep rising, despite not having a major hurricane in the last decade. The culprit – a concentration of non-weather related water claims. In many cases, these claims are pushed along by unscrupulous contractors and attorneys. According to Citizens Property Insurance…

The state’s personal-injury protection auto insurance system, known as “no-fault,” would end in 2019 under proposals ready to go before lawmakers. Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, filed a proposal (HB 997) last week, two months after Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty tossed out the idea of, “Let’s just repeal PIP and do nothing,” as a way…

NEW YORK, December 21, 2015 — Family, friends and festivities should be the focus of the holiday season, but don’t let this joyous time be marred by fire, theft, accidents and other disasters, advises the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). Taking a few simple steps, and having the right insurance coverage can reduce these seasonal hazards.…

Florida Sen. Thad Altman has filed to run for the Florida House seat now held by Ritch Workman, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits. Because of the Florida Senate redistricting process now underway, Altman’s current District 16 Senate seat will be on the ballot in 2016. But Altman, R-Rockledge, will not be able to seek re-election under Florida election…

Charlotte County in southwest Florida just became the 13th Florida county where the total number of registered voters rejecting both major parties now exceeds one of the two major parties. Figures posted on Supervisor of Elections Paul Stamoulis’ website show that “other” voters (mostly those with no party affiliation and a small number belonging to…

Political junkies in Tampa Bay awaiting the redistricting process to finally wrap up a few months ago chattered about the prospect of an epic GOP primary fight between state Sens. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, and Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg. The potential for such a battle-for-the-soul-of-the-GOP race seems to have ebbed, while the more common speculation is about another Yuuuuge…

BY TIMOTHY O’HARA Citizen Staff tohara@keysnews.com Retired South Miami Dade County school teacher Artie Leichner will challenge State Rep. Holly Raschein in the 2016 general election. Leichner, a Democrat from Redland, is taking his first crack at politics in his quest for the House District 120 seat. District 120 includes the entire Florida Keys and a small…

Key Largo (United States) (AFP) – Extreme high tides have turned streets into canal-like swamps in the Florida Keys, with armies of mosquitoes and the stench of stagnating water filling the air, and residents worried rising sea levels will put a damper on property values in the island chain. On Key Largo, a tropical isle…